Tent



June 11, 1935. M. J. MCAULIFF 2,004,668

/ TENT Filed Nov. 9, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Irma/var June 11, 1935. M. J. McAULlFFE 2,004,668

Filed Nov. 9, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' 15 cover mounted atop a vertical supporting post from the post at radially spaced points. Tor- 15 Patented June 11, 1935 I 2,004,668 8 UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE: V a p 2,004,668

TENT Michael J. McAulifie, Vicksburg, Miss. Application November 9, 1934, Serial No. 752,203 g Claims. (01. 135 -5) My inventionrelates generally to improvements right supporting post 5 of a, height suitable to in tents and more particularly to a folding or colsupport the hereinafter described tent cover at lapsible tent or canopy particularly suited for a distance above ground which will clear the use in carnival concessions,booths, as a sunshade heads of persons beneath, or of any suitable. 5 for the lawn or beach or in any use where a comheight, the post being suitably anchored at 6 in a 5 pletely enclosed tent is not necessary. base 1 which may be embedded in-the ground or I The main object is to provide a canopy or tent 'made portable as; desired. Near the top of this of this kind which may be permanently setup post 5 a plurality of cover supporting ribs 8 are on the ground or other surface and which when in radially arranged and adapted to carry and supuse will afford a protection against sun or rain port a cover or'canopy 9 of canvas or similar 10 and when not in use may be collapsed and folded waterproof fabric. 'Theseribs 8' are of anysuitup in a small space. able length according to the'spread or size desired Another object is to provide a device of this in the cover 9 and are pivoted by pins I0 between kind including an umbrella-like fabric top' or hinge lugs or'ears H which are extended out and which may, when not in use, be folded up and sional coil springs l 2 are coiled around these pins completely enclosed byaweatherproof casing slid- I0 and their ends i 3 are secured to the ribs 8 able on the post up over the said top. v and the post 5 so that the springs normally tend A further object is to provide a device of the to swing the ribs downward and outwardto the I kind aforesaid comprising a vertical post, a pluposition shown in Figure 2. In this position the 20 rality of radially extended ribs on the upper excover 9 which is secured centrally to the post tremity of the post carrying a fabric cover or 5 at M and to the ribs at I5 is held expanded and top and spring set to normally extend downwardtaut'as shown. Stay or brace ribs" l6 jequalji'n ly and outwardly to hold the cover stretched number to the main ribs 8 are'pivoted at their out taut, a casing slidable up over the post and inner ends by p i b tween ea s 8 ad1a11y'25 spring set to normally move upward striking the extended from thelpost 5 below the aforesaid j ribs and folding them inward and upward toears H. At their outer ends these brace ribs l6 gether, the casing thus receiving and enclosing have eyes J9 turned up and slidably engaging the folded ribs and cover and carrying a cap over slide rods or yokes 20 which are extend'ed along its open upper end designed to close automatically in spaced relation beneath the outer end por- 30 and completely enclose the cover and protect it tions of the main ribs 8 and are held thereto by from the weather, there being of course means the upwardly turned ends 2| weldedor otherwise for holding the casing in a lowered position when secured to said main ribs. Now as the main ribs the cover is expanded for use. I 8 reach the position at which they incline down- With theseand other objects in view the in- Ward toward their outer ends and the cover 9 35 vention resides in the novel construction and aris taut these eyes 19 will move to the outer ends rangement of parts as hereinafter fully set forth of the slide rods 20"and prevent any further and claimed, reference being had to the accomdownward-movement of the ribs as will be underpanying drawings wherein: stood. The hinge ears l8 are so located on-the 40 Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention as post that the brace ribs IE will then rest in sub- 40 in expanded position ready for use, the collapsed stantially a horizontal position as SIiQWIIX' and covered position of" the parts being also Though thus locked against further downward shown in dotted lines. movement the ribs 8 and I6 may be swung up- I Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental view of the ward and together collapsing the cover 9 and upper portion of the supporting post and asso- .forming a small compact bundle extended up 45 ciated parts, the cover, a part of the post and above the post as shown in dotted lines in Figpart of the casing being shown in section. ure 1 A casing 22 is provided to cover the folded Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental view of the ribs when in this position (Figure 1) and this lower portion of the post showing the fastening casing is of tubular shape tapering from its upmeans for the casing, a part of the casing being per to its lower end and having a cylindrical 001- 50 again shown in cross section. lar or sleeve 23 at its lower end which is freely Figure 4 is a fragmental side elevation of a part and slidably mounted on the post 5. The casing of the supportingpost showing the casing elevat- 22 is thus supported on the post concentrically ing spring and mounting. therewith with its open upper end 24 in position In carrying out my invention I provide an upbelow the rib and cover assembly sothat as the 55 1 I c asing is moved upwardlyon the post this end 24 will strike "the ribs and swing and fold them upwardly and together. The-tapered shape of the casing is welladapted to receive the thus folded ribs and cover assembly and the length of the casing is such as to completely receive and enclose these parts. Atapered'or conical cap 25 is-hi'nged' by a spring hinge 26' to the side of the open end 24 of the casing 22 and as the casing is raised over the ribs and cover, this cap 25 will be automatically closed by thespr-ing 21- in'the are freed will swing down and apart to stretch the cover 9 by the springs l2. The cap 25 is then small knob or button 29 on the peak of thec'ap.

ribs and cover, a flat torsional coil spring 30 is 32 which is journaled in and through a slot 33 in the post and carries guide disks or plates 34. The spring 30 normally coils around the axle 32 and the free end 35 is pulled down over a roller 36in one c'orn'erloi the slot 33 iand-is'secured at 31, to the casing 22 near its lower end as shown. Now as the oasingis pulled down this spring30 is uncoiled and straightened outand' its normal tendency to recoil tends to raise the casing as will be understood. The collar 23' at the lower end of the casing hasa bayonet notch 38 which may be engaged with a pin 39in the post 5 near its lower end to hold the casing in lowered position against the pull of the springillg In lieu of this spring, '30 a fiat rubber band orstrip might be I used and arranged to be stretched as the casing is pulled down whereupon the band would tend to again raise the casing.

From theforegoing it will be understood that by simply raisingthe casing 22 it will strike the ribs l6 outwardly of their hinge ears l8 and will swing these ribs and the main ribs 8 upward ioldi'ng and collapsing the cover 9 until the casing moves over and entirely encloses these parts.

"The cover is thus protected from the elements and the assembly may be left standing thus for any desired time. When it is again desired'to use the tent or canopy, the casing 22 is simply pulled downward and locked'by the bayonet catch described as .theribs unfold an'dstretch the cover out taut. The whole structure? may of course be made of any suitable size and for any desired use. 1 1, While Ihave herein set forth a certain preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor structural details, so as best to construct a practical device for the purposeintended, not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

hinge 26and will cover this open end of the casing. When the casing is pulledback down the cap 25 will be forced open and the ribs as they held in opened position (Figure l) bya'stra'p-28. secured to the casing 22 and engaged with a To aid in raising the casing 22 to enclose the provided and is secured at one end 31 to'a n axle I claim:

1. In a device of the kind described, a post; a folding rib assembly on the post, and a casing slidably mounted on the post and adapted to cover the ribs when they are folded,

2. Ina. device of the kind described, a post, a

and a spring set tonormally swing the ribs outward and downward, a fabric cover, secured on the main ribs, a plurality of radial brace ribs hinged to the post below the main ribs, slide rods mounted beneath and parallel to the main ribs, the said brace ribs having eyes at their outer ends slidably engaging the said slide rods, and means for folding the said ribs upward together'and enclosing and protecting the ribs and cover.

4. In a device of the kind described, a post, a plurality of radial mainlribs hingedto the post .and spring set to normally swing outward and downward,,a-fabric cover secured on the main rib's, a plurality of radial brace ribs hinged to the post below the main ribs, slide rods mounted beneath and parallel to the main ribs, and said .brace'ribs having eyes at their outer ends slid ablyengagin'g the said slide rods, and means for folding the said ribs upward together andenclosing and protecting the ribs and cover, the same comprising a casing open atits upper end and tapered towardits lower endand slidably engag-l.

ing the post, and a cap hinged to the upper end of the casing and a spring set to normally close,

the said open end of the casing when the same is moved upward on the post to fold and enclose the ribs.

5. In a device of thekind described, a post, a plurality of radial main ribs hinged to the post and a spring set to normally swing the ribs outward and downward, a fabric coversecured on the main ribs, a plurality ofradial brace ribs hinged to thepost below the'main ribs, slide rods mounted beneath and parallel to the main ribs, and said brace ribs having'eyes at their outer ends slidably engaging the said slide rods, and means for folding the said ribs upwardtogether and enclQSi Bv and protectingthe ribs and cover,

the same comprising a casing open at its upper end and tapered toward its lower. end and slidably engaging the post, and a caphinged to the upper end of the casing and spring set to normally close the said open end of the casing when the same is moved upward on the post to fold and enclose the ribs, spring operated means to normally raise the said casing, means for holding the casing in a lowered position and means for holding the capin an opened position while'the casing is lowered.

MICHAEL J. MoAU'LIFFE. 

